Signor to himself and alfred a



N.` G. WHTMORE.

Improvement in Cartridges.

Patented Aug 20,1812..-

NArHANIEE GILBERT wHrrMoRE, oE MANSEIELD,MAssAcHUsErrrs, AssrcNoR To HIMsELE AND ALFRED A. REID, or rRovIDENcE, R. i.

curseur la canralnees.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent. No1 m3056759, dated August 2d, 1872.

Specification 'describing an Improvement in Cartridges, the invention of NATHANLEL GILBERT WHrrMoRE; of Mansfield, in the contnty of Bristol and State of Massachuset s.

This invention relates to cartridge-cases for breech-loading fire-arms, principally designed `for the use of shot, whereby provision is made for the repriming of the case for repeated use, by allowing ofthe removal of an exploded cap, and of the introduction of a fresh cap. The invention consists in a novel construction of the cartridge-ease, whereby an ordinary cap, containing the priming, may be used, and the same, when exploded, be made to assist in preventing the escape of gas in rear of the cartridge or its case; also, whereby great facility isaliorded for repriming, and

r a substantial construction of the case is ob-` tained. y y l s In the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a center-fire cartridge-ease constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2, a longitudinal view of the cap-holder detached; Fig. 3, a like view of a gascheck used in combination with the capholder'; and Fig. 4, a longitudinal section of said parts or pieces in their relation with each other and with the cap in its place previous to explosion. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified construction of the cartridgecase; and Figs. 6, 7, and 8, views similar to Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of parts detached and in combina-tion. j

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several igures of the drawing.

Referring, in the first instance, to Figs. 1,2, 3, and 4 of the drawing, Arepresents the tube or body of the ease, which may be made of metal or paper, or both combined, or of any suitable materials; but 'preferably of metal, and the same with accompanying parts will here be described accordingly. Said tube A is spun orotherwise made to eomprisea an ged base end, a, with a cylindrical opening through its center, and with an annularrecess, b, inits rear around said hole` or opening. B is 'a battery-eup, formed with a iiange, e, at its back, which 'fits within the annular recess, b, and

lies flush with or does not project beyond the back ofthe case. Said battery-cup 1B also forms a retainer for the cap-holder G, and is made with a hollowr cylindrical body, d, which.` fits closely within or through the hole in thel center of the base end a, and projects some v distance within the' tube or body A of the case; also is constructed with an inner end, e, through the center of which there is a hole of reduced diameter to that of. the cavity in the body d. This combined battery-cup and cap-holder retainer B is permanently secured to form part of the case, by soldering or rivets f f passing through the flan-ge c, the base-end a, and a ring or washer, g, introduced through the v front end of the tube A, or said piece Bmay be both soldered and riveted to its place, or beotherwisesuitablyandpermanentlysecured.

The cap-holder C is formed of a tube of a length and size to project snugly through the hole inthe end e of the battery-cupand backward within` the body d, but of considerably less diameterthan the, interior of said body,

and stopping short of the back of the case,

also formed with a ange, h, which fits snugly within the body d, and rests against the end l ing, t', in its rear, of a size to closely fit over the head of the cap k, while the forward portion of the-hole through it is of larger diameter.

Figs. 5,' 6,7, and 8 show substantially a similar construction, but the battery-cup B 1s flanged and constructed to dispense with a base-end, a, or rather to constitute such end, and has an enlarged body so as 4to closely fit within the tube A, to which it is soldered or permanently secured. The flange It of the capholdenU and the gas-check D are also of lar- .ger diameters to correspond. Y,

When the cartridge is fired theexplosion of the cap k causes the sides of the latter to be ldistended or forced outward within the gascheck D, and therebyv to more perfectly close said check at itscenter-re. opening i, so that' gas is prevented from esca-pin g in rear ,of the To prime the cartridge-case, the cap lk is tted over the back end of the holder C, lMld the ga s-check D fitted to the latter, e'l'ter which said devices are shoved home to their places in the case and driven close, als hereinafter described, in order that the gas-check may lie flush with the back of the case, and so that the cap 7c doesnot project outside of the same, to provide for entr;r and removal of the cartridge or its case through the breech of the What is here claimed, and desired to beseo 2 Demme The removable gas-'check D having :t center lire opening, i., fitting closely around theo-Alp,v

NATHANIEL GILBERT WHITMORE.

Witnesses:

EDWARD C. AMES,

CYUs ARNOLD. 

